Assisted Living VS. Skilled Nursing – How Are They Different?

When you find yourself in need of care for yourself or a senior loved one, understanding what each type is can be an overwhelming experience. As you begin your research into the various available options, you’ll find that the two most common types of senior care are assisted living and skilled nursing.

Both assisted living and skilled nursing facilities provide seniors assistance with medical care and daily activities, but each has its own distinctive characteristics and levels of care provided. In order to make the best and most informed choice, it’s important to understand the differences between the two.

What is Assisted Living?

Sometimes referred to as a senior living community, an assisted living facility offers a home-like environment to its residents that may be in the form of a private room or multi-room apartment. Some also offer shared resident rooms.

An assisted living community is for senior adults who are able to live mostly independent lives, but may need assistance with daily activities like bathing, housekeeping, laundry, or medication management, and provide 24/7 emergency help services. Most communities provide transportation to and from appointments, shopping trips, group  outings and more. They also typically include on-site amenities like shared outdoor areas, shared dining and family areas, and regularly scheduled recreational and social activities.

What is Skilled Nursing?

Sometimes simply referred to as a nursing home, a skilled nursing facility provides around the clock assistance with daily needs and inpatient medical treatment and care. Skilled nursing facilities maintain an on-site staff of certified nursing assistants, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and therapists.

Residents living in a skilled nursing facility can no longer safely live at home. Medicare defines skilled care as medical care “that can only be safely and effectively performed by, or under the supervision of, professionals or technical personnel”. Medicare typically covers the cost of skilled nursing care, but does not cover the cost of an assisted living facility.

How Are They different?

Both of the two most common types of senior care facilities are similar in that each offers assistance with day-to-day activities and each provides medical care. The level of care between the two and the manner in which these needs are addressed is the biggest difference between them.

We’ve listed below the main differences between an assisted living and skilled nursing facility.

Environment

An assisted living facility is set up like a residential environment that may resemble individual houses or apartments. The facility is set up as a community, where residents have the independence to safely move about freely, with group outings and social activities planned on a regular basis.

A skilled nursing facility, on the other hand, is a medical living environment. Skilled nursing care is most often provided in a rehabilitation center or nursing home under the close supervision of trained medical professionals 24/7.

Independance Levels

Residents in an assisted living community are mostly independent, but for whatever reason, are often no longer able to safely live at home alone. These residents are able to decide the amount of assistance they need with daily activities. Many are still capable of driving themselves, and will continue to live in the community as long as they need to or their level of independence changes.

Patients in a skilled nursing facility, however, need a great deal more assistance with daily activities, and require a more intensive level of medical care. These individuals are often completely reliant on the medical staff to have their medical and daily needs met, and cannot safely live at home.

Care Levels

The level of skill and care required to care for residents is the biggest difference between an assisted living community and a skilled nursing facility.

Residents in an assisted living facility typically need light assistance with daily activities like personal hygiene, housekeeping, and medication management. They also enjoy the community aspect of the facility and regularly take part in social and recreational activities. When it comes to medical care, most assisted living facilities offer medical services and 24/7 emergency care, but do not require 24/7 comprehensive medical care services.

Patients in a skilled nursing facility tend to be individuals with extensive, chronic, or complex medical needs. These individuals may require mobility assistance, and often are completely reliant on the care staff for their daily activities and medical needs. This can include those who can no longer bathe or feed themselves, and individuals in late stages of dementia.

Conclusion

There may come a time when you need help with daily activities and medical care for yourself or a senior loved one. When it’s time to make that choice, the best thing you can do is research your options to understand what’s available, and what works best for you.

Jurney’s Assisted Living offers a discerning residential environment for those who, for whatever reason, should not live alone, but do not require skilled nursing care. Here, residents can live as independently as they wish, with the calm assurance that help is always available, should they require assistance with their activities of daily living. Residents may range from being very independent to being physically and/or memory challenged. Contact us today to learn more.